grille

UK: /ˈgrɪl/ US: /grɪl/ ,(gril)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

grille or grill /grɪl/   n. [countable]

1. a grating or barrier, as for a gate, usually of metal and often of decorative design.
2. Automotive an opening covered by a grill for admitting air to cool the engine of an automobile or the like.
3. Cryptography a screen used to cover something, as a loudspeaker.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

grille  (gril), n. 

1. a grating or openwork barrier, as for a gate, usually of metal and often of decorative design.
2. Automotive an opening, usually covered by grillwork, for admitting air to cool the engine of an automobile or the like;
   radiator grille.
3. Cryptography any of various perforated screens, sheets, etc., used to cover something, as on a radio for protecting the amplifier or in cryptography for coding purposes.
4. a ticket window covered by a grating.
5. Sport [Court Tennis.] a square-shaped winning opening on the hazard side of the court. Cf. dedans (def. 1), winning gallery. 

Also, grill. 

• Late Latin *gratīcula, Latin crātīcula (compare Old Provencal grazilha), diminutive of crātis
• French, Old French
• 1655–65

grilled, adj. 

gril•lé  (Fr. grē yā′), adj. 

1. Food cooked on a grill;
   broiled.
2. Textiles having an ornamental bar or grate pattern across the open areas of a lace motif.

Also, gril•lée′. 

• French: grilled; see grille
• 1680–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grille, grill / ɡrɪl/ noun

1. Also called: grillwork a framework, esp of metal bars arranged to form an ornamental pattern, used as a screen or partition
2. Also called: radiator grille a grating, often chromium-plated, that admits cooling air to the radiator of a motor vehicle
3. a metal or wooden openwork grating used as a screen or divider
4. a protective screen, usually plastic or metal, in front of the loudspeaker in a radio, record player, etc

Etymology: 17th Century: from Old French, from Latin crātīcula fine hurdlework, from crātis a hurdle